Never doubt God’s love. There is something quite beautiful and amazing about God’s capacity to cause all things to work for good–because of Jesus.

“How blessed is the man whose strength is in THEE: in whose heart are the highways to Zion! Passing through the valley of Baca, they make it a spring” –Psalm 84:5-6.

Baca means “weeping.” Most people have had times of weeping when hearts and hopes feel crushed in this life through some crisis, hardship, betrayal, or devastation.

Do not ever doubt God’s love. Remember, He answers prayer in ways we might not think. He always does it in ways so we know it’s HIM. He goes to extreme measures to make Himself known.

Because God has placed in our hearts “highways to Zion,” when we pass through valleys; we do not live in them. We pass through with Jesus. Once we are on the other side of weeping (having experienced extreme heartbreak, betrayal, and hurts) our Redeemer makes our valley experience into “a spring.” The very thing that overwhelmed us, no matter if it was for a season or even years, in time, will refresh us because we know that God was with us through it all. We look back and see His Hand behind the scenes of the past, and know He is with us in the present and whatever the future may hold. We are able to share of His goodness because we have a new testimony.

Has someone hurt your deeply? Has the enemy isolated you and caused you to doubt God’s love? Never forget—even the hairs on your head are numbered. God cares deeply. It is His great love for us that redeems our hardships. He brings good out of what was meant for evil—remember the story of Joseph in God’s Word. He was betrayed by his brothers and they left him to die. He was unjustly accused by Potiphar’s wife, imprisoned and forgotten by all EXCEPT GOD. God watched Joseph’s reaction to difficulty and was with him through it all. Rich or poor, blessed or persecuted, Joseph served God. Joseph was on trial before men—but was found innocent by God. God used everything Joseph went through to shape him for His purpose.

God uses our redeemed hardships to train us to deliver other people. Jesus was a man of sorrows. He was One who was acquainted with grief. Yet in all of what He walked through on earth, His suffering was the Father’s means of acquainting Him with the feelings of mankind’s pain and need. What have you walked through that someone else needs to hear to make it through?

Do not forget, while we were yet sinners, Jesus Christ died for us. If we will choose to submit and surrender to God’s plan to be formed in us, God will take the sorrowful things we have walked through to enlarge our hearts and fill us with overflowing compassion. Only when we have been acquainted with grief, can we be anointed with true compassion from above to deliver others.

As we were driving to a luncheon this week, we passed by a shopping center and saw what appeared to be some sort of equipment that made me think of Haman’s gallows in the Book of Esther. The Lord spoke to my heart and reminded me that the plots and traps people set for others, they will be caught in them instead.

The Bible says: “So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath was pacified” (Esther 7:10). Like Esther, we can now come before the King of kings and tell him exactly how we feel, what is on our heart, and what is troubling us—the evil plotted against God’s people that the Holy Spirit has revealed.

After seeing the hanging pole (or gallows), I chose to turn around and take a picture. It took all of two minutes. I circled through the parking lot, stopped and took the picture, and proceeded out again to the light at the intersection. Interestingly enough, the jeep in front of us had a wheel cover with the word problem upside down, and just over it in white were the words NO PROBLEM. I knew God was making Himself known to us, and letting us know the obvious. Problems are NO PROBLEM for God. Amen. I know that someone is shouting high praises to Heaven now after reading this as well.

Then the car in front of us at the next light had a sticker in the window with a circle on it. Inside the circle were two hearts and a CROSS. God wants us to be alert to Him to see what He is revealing. We can see manifestations in the natural of what is happening in the spirit realm—if we are alert and in-tune to God. Because God is Love, He is a communicator. In fact, God is always communicating with us. Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit is an important part of successfully navigating life.

Be assured, God knows the number of hairs on every head, and HE knows exactly what you or someone you love is walking through right now. He will avenge you and make every crooked place straight. He is long-suffering and waits to give people time to repent. But God doesn’t wait forever. Time is short—eternity is forever—heaven and hell are real. We must choose: LIFE or DEATH.

God has not promised to keep us from valleys of pain and sufferings, but He has promised to make us fruitful in them. As we remain faithful to God in the trials of life, the likeness of Jesus Christ shall emerge in our spirits—thus Christ revealed to those around us. Other people will see the light in us as we stand strong and shine with the glory of God.

God’s love and mine,

Deborah

BOOKS BY DEBORAH STARCZEWSKI

GOD’S PRICELESS TREASURE (How To Overcome Challenges, Be Transformed and Know Your Purpose)….published 2011 by Charisma/Creation House Press. Learn how to move from drama to destiny, pain to purpose, a mess to a message, a trial to triumph through turning to Jesus Christ.

A LEAP OF FAITH (25 Days At The Mercy Seat)…the full account of God’s miraculous intervention, resurrection power, dreams, visions, and spirit-led living. You won’t be able to put the book down. God raised my husband from death, healed him from two strokes and walked with us through his two-open heart surgeries. Read and see the stories unfold of my daddy’s passing to heaven, our son’s first open-heart surgery, and the continuing miracles. This book will give you hope to believe God again for yourself, your family, and the nations.

THE MIDNIGHT HOUR (Will America Turn Back To God?)…a must read for all.

Dr Rick Ross, Lead Pastor

“For the last seven plus years we have been blessed to watch Deborah live out the principles in God’s Priceless Treasure. This book will bring supernatural courage to everyone facing a challenge. The battle sometimes seems overwhelming, but the Mighty Warrior has gone before you.....

Joyce F

"Deborah imparted the tools, skills and understanding I needed to grow in the spirit. In this day's devotional, God also spoke to me of the hard lessons we all need to learn when "He" or your "Mentor" (such as Deborah) in my case, speaks into our life that we must choose to grow...

Dr. Neal Speight

"...As a result of obedience in the midst of her desert experiences, I believe God has filled Deborah with wisdom that we would all do well to take to heart. Do you ever ask yourself why you seem to end up in the same situation over and over again? Why you fear the future, or are frustrated with relationships?...."